[Fundamental data in hemorheology. I. Parameters controlling the fundamental processes in hemorheology]

When attempting to apply rheological concepts to the problem of the circulation of blood, researches have often come up against the difficulties inherent in the fluid's specific properties and in the characteristics of blood flow. The concepts that have been fully proven in conventional fluid mechanics have often been applied too hastily to hemodynamics, without even ascertaining the validity of the original hypotheses. The following factors must be taken into account: the specific nature of the fluid (a concentrated cell suspension with complex rheological characteristic such as membrane viscoelasticity, large deformations and liable to undergo high interactions); the characteristics of the blood vessels deformability; the type of flow (essentially non-stationary).